Revive Retreats

A TIME TO REFLECT
& REDEFINE YOUR AFTER-CANCER SELF

Retreats offer the opportunity to reflect on the impact of cancer on your life and redefine your after-cancer self.

Our Revive Retreats series is Pink Lemonade Project’s original program. Each retreat is led by two licensed oncology social workers to provide guidance and counseling in a relaxing, soothing atmosphere surrounded by nature and overlooking the beautiful Columbia Gorge. In 2024, we will offer two weekend retreats for those who have finished active treatment and one weekend retreat for couples. In addition, we will offer a one-day retreat for those living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and a one- day retreat for our Latina support group members, which will be Spanish speaking only.

Our retreats are free, although guests for the weekend retreats will pay a $96 deposit to hold their space for the weekend. The deposit is refunded after the retreat. You can pay the deposit here.

As a retreat guest, you will be given time to consider the impact of cancer on your life and to reflect upon both the difficulties and the potentials that exist as a result. Experience renewal, shared journeying, and encouragement among people who understand what you’re going through because they are on the same road. At the end of the retreat, we hope you emerge with renewed perspectives, ready to jump back into your daily life.

Please read through the retreat descriptions carefully. Deposits are paid only after a confirmed reservation with Pink Lemonade Project staff and retreat facilitators.  Only pay a deposit after being instructed by PLP staff. Applying for a retreat does not guarantee attendance. Pink Lemonade Project is not responsible for travel arrangements.

A Survivor’s Retreat

Breast cancer changes everything. Most people who have been through the experience describe two lives: life before cancer and life after breast cancer.

Even those who have finished treatment with a good prognosis are troubled with a number of thoughts: How can I stay healthy post-cancer? Who am I now? What are my new or renewed priorities? How can I help my loved ones understand how I feel?

During our retreats, survivors explore what it means to have a healthy mind, body and spirit in their new post-cancer life. The experience is designed to foster personal renewal, facilitate a shared journey with other survivors, and forge bonds of encouragement among people traveling the same road. Participants tell us they leave our retreats feeling inspired with a personal self-care plan and new friends for support along the way!

Note: Retreats are designed for those who are out of active treatment, including chemo and radiation therapy. This does not include reconstruction surgery.

This retreat includes:
3-day, 2-night lodging | Private room with ensuite bathroom for each guest
6 specialty meals | Professional retreat facilitators | Small Groups
Massage | Gentle exercise | Opportunities for rest and renewal | Journaling

A Couple’s Retreat

A breast cancer diagnosis can impose significant emotional distress on patients and their partners, posing many challenges for both members of a couple. An ongoing challenge is how to cope with the disease, its treatment, and its long-term sequel within the context of their relationships. Breast cancer introduces individual and relationship challenges for both the patient and her partner. Research has shown that some of these issues can serve to bring a couple closer together (cohesion) while others can disrupt relationship functioning in different ways (e.g., by communication problems, less intimacy, and decreased relationship satisfaction) at different stages of the disease-recovery timeline. .

During the retreat, couples will learn how to move beyond the cancer experience and into their post-cancer lives. They will gain clarity and focus on “next steps” to maintaining healthy minds, bodies, and spirits. Together, you will experience renewal, shared journeying and encouragement among other couples who have shared a path similar to yours.

This retreat includes:
3-day, 2-night lodging | Private room for each couple with ensuite bathroom
6 specialty meals | Professional retreat facilitators | Small Groups
Opportunities for rest and renewal | Journaling

A Metastatic Retreat

This retreat is for women living with a metastatic, or stage four, breast cancer diagnosis.

Patients with metastatic breast cancer face a unique set of emotions and challenges along their breast cancer journey. Pink Lemonade Project will host a one-day retreat, located at the Grotto in Northeast Portland, for this special group of patients. Those living with MBC might feel misunderstood, ignored, and even isolated from other breast cancer patients and survivors so this custom retreat is designed with this in mind. Facilitated by oncology social workers, this PLP retreat encourages participants to benefit from guided discussions about issues specific to women with advanced breast cancer, including dealing with difficult feelings, talking with family, and managing stress. Women share stories with – and learn from – other women like themselves. This retreat will include additional activities, such as guided meditation and/or massage.

Latina Support Group

Este retiro es para mujeres que participan en el grupo de apoyo-cáncer de mama español. Durante este retiro de un día ubicado en el Grotto en el noreste de Portland, las participantes exploraran lo que significa tener una mente, un cuerpo y un espíritu sano en su nueva vida después del cáncer. La experiencia está diseñada para promover la renovación personal, facilitar un viaje compartido con otras sobrevivientes y forjar vínculos de aliento entre personas que recorren el mismo camino. Este retiro incluirá actividades adicionales como meditación guiada y/o masajes. Nota: Los retiros están diseñados para quienes están fuera del tratamiento activo, incluida la quimioterapia y la radioterapia. Esto no incluye la cirugía de reconstrucción.

This retreat is for women participating in the Spanish speaking support group, Grupo de Apoyo. During this one-day retreat located at the Grotto in Northeast Portland, participants will explore what it means to have a healthy mind, body and spirit in their new post-cancer life. The experience is designed to foster personal renewal, facilitate a shared journey with other survivors, and forge bonds of encouragement among people traveling the same road. This retreat will include additional activities, such as guided meditation and/or massage. Note: Retreats are designed for those who are out of active treatment, including chemo and radiation therapy. This does not include reconstruction surgery.

(THIS TEXT BLOCK HAS BEEN HIDDEN) A Long-term Survivor’s Retreat

This retreat is for women breast cancer survivors who are 3 or more years post treatment. The survivorship continuum changes over time and therefore needs are often different for survivors immediate post treatment (0-2 years) than long-term survivors ( 3 + years).

This retreat will focus on common issues faced by long-term survivors such as how to deal with long-term and late effects of treatment, body image changes, cognitive impairment, fatigue, sexual health, mental health, and chronic pain syndromes. This retreat will allow for meaningful discussions, provide opportunities to share experiences, enhance self-care, and build advocacy to help others.

This retreat includes:
3-day, 2-night lodging | Private room with ensuite bathroom for each guest
6 specialty meals | Professional retreat facilitators | Small Groups
2 presentations by medical professionals |Gentle exercise
Opportunities for rest and renewal | Journaling

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